A bond of love

Bhaiya Dooj is a unique concept in Hindu terminology to cover the usual affinity of man vs woman as created by God himself, supposed to bring one near the other. It is on this day that brother-sister affinity is exhibited in its quantum and quality of love in its purest form. RL Pathak writes.

Bhaiya Dooj is a unique concept in Hindu terminology to cover the usual affinity of man vs woman as created by God himself, supposed to bring one near the other. It is on this day that brother-sister affinity is exhibited in its quantum and quality of love in its purest form.

A recent article in this newspaper underlined the significance of rituals and how they change and transform one’s base instincts into noble ones as if by a magic wand. The writer advocated rituals as they played a positive role in life.

Sisters look forward to this day to perform the ritual year after year. Not only the sisters, even brothers await the day eagerly to reassure their sisters of their commitment to pronounce their solemn pledge to help them and protect them in all kinds of situations.

The message that Bhaiya Dooj conveys is the same as in the case of tying a thread on Raksha bandhan by the sister on the wrist of a brother that symbolises the bond of love and affection and reassurance of life-long support and protection. On Bhaiya Dooj, the sister puts a ‘tilak’ on the forehead of her brother, signifying love and affection in its purest form.

Sisters, attired in their colourful best, make it to their brothers’ place to, besides putting a ‘tilak’ on the foreheads of their brothers, tie a thread like it is done on Rakhi day. An environment of bonhomie and pleasantries takes over.

The festival is celebrated with lots of sweets shared between them and family members. At times, each one puts sweets into the mouth of the other, even forcibly, just to show how much they love each other. Both the sister and the brother then seek the blessings of their parents and other elders in the family.

It is this kind of festival that reminds one not only of the need to celebrate for unity and strengthening the sacred love between a brother and his sister but also to show the world that goodness and love can make our existence on this planet more meaningful.